I am almost sure that if you look back in history. You will find nearly every culture has been beat down by another.
I think one of the problems that we have in America is people are afraid of this subject, it is like the third rail. If you bring up the subject it immediately turns ugly. I commend everyone here for an open discussion about the subject, and not waiving a Ban Hammer for bringing it up.
I think it is sad that the issue of slavery has dominated this country for so long. The issue has lead to "white guilt" in America. The whites are taught in school to feel ashamed about their ancestors actions, that they ad nothing to do with. Thomasville N.C. is named for my fathers, mothers side of the family. It started out as a plantation with slaves before the civil war. Do feel guilty? No. I had nothing to do with it. Was it wrong ? Yes.
I will tell you from my experience, Black history month was never a good month for the Whites in my school. When the topic was brought up many feelings were stirred. Since I went to a predominantly black school, this was the source of many problems for me. It seemed like every February, it was fight time. It always started the same way, name calling, then the fights. Like I said before I was the big guy in school, I could fend for myself just fine. The smaller white students would go to the rest room and "boom".
Has this effected my outlook? Sure I would be a fool and a liar if I said that it did not. I certainly do not consider myself a racist, I believe every should get the same opportunities in America no matter what color.